tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40562284763451784242014-10-06T22:07:23.731-07:00These Present Moments"We can not do great things. We can only do little things with great love." ---Mother Teresa---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"What I treasure most in life is being able to dream. During my most difficult moments and complex situations I have been able to dream of a more beautiful future."---R.MenchúJackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-39826934943940632682011-11-19T07:05:00.000-08:002011-11-19T07:05:44.733-08:00Time and Talents for Children<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This past week I had the honor of coordinating a group of 19 eager and passionate adults and teenagers from all over the US--but mainly Wisconsin. The trip leaders and directors of Time and Talents for Children, Jody and Greg, and I have been planning their arrival for over a year! To be with this only 7 days was too short, but the trip went with few hitches and everyone left tired but happy!<br /><br />Dental Team:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KqhyOpV87i8/TsfB7ooJjYI/AAAAAAAAAVY/p7zkLD_RKpE/s1600/Nov+7+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="82" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KqhyOpV87i8/TsfB7ooJjYI/AAAAAAAAAVY/p7zkLD_RKpE/s320/Nov+7+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8J8-XUWoFIA/TsfB9Bl2niI/AAAAAAAAAVg/wWHO26yn9mY/s1600/Nov+7+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8J8-XUWoFIA/TsfB9Bl2niI/AAAAAAAAAVg/wWHO26yn9mY/s320/Nov+7+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VKIAP3FPCpI/TsfB_DuqzHI/AAAAAAAAAVo/GzMiIOZ0Ae0/s1600/Nov+7+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VKIAP3FPCpI/TsfB_DuqzHI/AAAAAAAAAVo/GzMiIOZ0Ae0/s320/Nov+7+%25286%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qNrbd6qoqhc/TsfCA64REFI/AAAAAAAAAVw/Mng34nLD8Cc/s1600/Nov+7+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qNrbd6qoqhc/TsfCA64REFI/AAAAAAAAAVw/Mng34nLD8Cc/s320/Nov+7+%25289%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">&nbsp;Construction Team---Bottle Classroom in Janlay to and two new cook stoves. The formal kitchen has been used as a classroom for several years due to lack of space. In the meantime snack was being prepared in large pots over open flames. This is not only dangerous, but also a cause of fatal illness; as respiratory problems are the number one cause of death in Guatemala. So it was decided by the school staff and parents committee that a new full-sized classroom was needed to reallocate the students and reclaim the original kitchen space where we also built to accessible cook stoves.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TZEFkFlnrLc/TsfFq0-Cj6I/AAAAAAAAAWY/Gxaf5d8pdFA/s1600/filling+bottles+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TZEFkFlnrLc/TsfFq0-Cj6I/AAAAAAAAAWY/Gxaf5d8pdFA/s320/filling+bottles+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a6HIz7ehDzM/TsfCFxzcGFI/AAAAAAAAAV4/aYxlof_Ff7Y/s1600/Nov+8+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a6HIz7ehDzM/TsfCFxzcGFI/AAAAAAAAAV4/aYxlof_Ff7Y/s320/Nov+8+%25282%2529.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9lmeiy6WtIE/TsfCIsoPRRI/AAAAAAAAAWA/DpwY6zWZG00/s1600/Nov+8+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9lmeiy6WtIE/TsfCIsoPRRI/AAAAAAAAAWA/DpwY6zWZG00/s320/Nov+8+%25287%2529.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gzkPpjXtOw8/TsfCKs-2pII/AAAAAAAAAWI/CacVwZua4Dw/s1600/Nov+8+%252818%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gzkPpjXtOw8/TsfCKs-2pII/AAAAAAAAAWI/CacVwZua4Dw/s320/Nov+8+%252818%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9-5O1W6KD-o/TsfC6l_PiGI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/ZkYalJpA-MU/s1600/IMG_6408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9-5O1W6KD-o/TsfC6l_PiGI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/ZkYalJpA-MU/s320/IMG_6408.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-48382314320128898542011-04-30T22:22:00.000-07:002011-04-30T22:22:09.981-07:00One Lucky Girl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Living on your own in a foreign country teaches you how to grow up and sometimes this simply means doing things that you always relied on your mom and dad to do for you. Here are a few embarrassing moments of 2011 that have taught me some lessons as well as reminded me of how lucky I am…These are also moments I generally keep to myself and avoid telling my parents about but like any embarrassing story, time has its way of making it not as serious and hopefully more entertaining. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">______________________________</div><div class="MsoNormal">An Ode to Edgar:</div><div class="MsoNormal">My first story happened the day I flew back to Guatemala after spending Christmas and New Years in the states. Like always, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>I arrived to Guatemala exhausted (mainly from trying to get my money’s worth of free wine in first class at 9am in the morning) and took the $10 shuttle to Antigua from the airport. I hopped into the shuttle and got out my computer to check my email. There were three other people in the shuttle that day and two of them were Peace Corps Volunteers, one of which I know. We chatted and I anxiously anticipated returning home and sleeping. When I got home I feel straight to sleep for a good two hours. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When I woke up I went to get out my computer to check my email and I discovered it missing. In my sleepwalking state I had left my computer on the shuttle. I had no way of contacting the shuttle; I had no company name or phone number. Moreover, since there were only four of us on the shuttle and I was the last one out it should have been obvious to the driver that the computer was mine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>However, I did over hear the driver tell his name to the front seat passenger: Edgar. So I had a name, that’s it. I was a mess, nearly in tears I had no idea what to do. I went straight to Chiqui, the owner of the home where I rent a room, and told her what had happened. She got out the yellow pages and started randomly calling shuttle agencies. I started thinking…and I remembered that I had stored the number of the shuttle driver of the very first shuttle ride I ever took from the airport to Antigua back in January 2010. Chiqui called him and he said he knew Edgar. Within minutes Edgar was at my door with my computer. I was speechless for a few reasons: 1. My Spanish was rusty after a 3 week hiatus 2. The way I got it back was pure luck 3. I didn’t know such honest strangers existed….</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My Car Won’t Start: </div><div class="MsoNormal">One day my car wouldn’t start. Thankfully I was still in the house and could troubleshoot it for myself. I called over a friend to help me since I had no experience with corroded terminals. We watched a YouTube video and went to cleaning the terminals. Once we were finished the car still wouldn’t start. So we tried jumping the car. That didn’t work either. So then my mechanic, Gunther (yes that’s his real name), came over. Between me calling him and him arriving (15 minutes) we connected my plugged in the battery to a charger. When Gunther arrived he jumped in the car and started it. Just like that. We determined it was the battery and jumping it for some reason didn’t work. It was then I found out Guther is also Chiqui’s mechanic and he took a look at a car of Chiqui’s. Gunther didn’t charge me a penny. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Then the next day I drove to a community an hour away. Everything was going fine until we stopped for peaches. We bought some peaches and got back in the car to take a hidden short cut back to Patzun. The car wouldn’t start. Thankfully I was with a mason who looked under the hood and said my terminals were corroded. Since I didn’t have any tools, we called a father from a nearby school we had been working at and together they cleaned the terminals and the car started. Again, free of charge! But then I did the responsible thing and went back to Gunther’s and got them to clean and completely change the terminals for $10. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A Light-Up and Mooing Cow Serves as Comic Relief: </div><div class="MsoNormal">The other night I was driving a friend home at midnight. We were chatting and I passed a slow-moving police truck patrolling the neighborhood. Shortly afterwards the police truck turned on his lights and siren. There were four problems with this: 1. My car’s windows are very tinted 2. Therefore, we didn’t realize they were trying to pull us over until a good two or three blocks afterwards. 3. I wasn’t doing anything wrong to be pulled over. 4. We were in Jocotenango…and well Joco is scary. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When we finally realized we were the only two vehicles on the street and the pick-up filled with at least eight fully armed policemen were pulling us over I started freaking out. I haven’t been pulled over in Guatemala yet but I knew the situation I was in wasn’t a good one. So I kept driving, arguing with my friend about pulling over. Finally she convinced me to pull over. We were on a dark side street and when I stopped around seven armed policemen surrounded my car. It was scary. To make it worse, the main policeman came up to my window, didn’t greet me and demanded me to get out of the car. I asked why and he just kept saying “Get out of the car.” My friend said “Jackie we should get out.” So I stubbornly got out. The angry policeman told me to put my purse on the ground so he could search it. I told him he could search it but I wasn’t going to put it on the ground. My friend asked what they were doing or looking for and the angry man didn’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">say </i>drugs but put one finger to his nostril and pretended like he was snorting cocaine. Perfect. Then he went into my car and started ruffling though some maps I have and kept asking if I had drugs…though he never said the word “drugs” he just kept panamiming snorting coke. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I was getting super nervous at the non-traditional stop and asked Mr. Meany if he wanted to see my license and registration like a normal stop. He kinda waved his hands like “sure, whatever” and kept looking in my car for drugs. Like I said, it was a dark street and I needed to find my registration. Thankfully, one of the several thoughtful presents Joan brought me in March was a light up and mooing cow key chain flash light. So I used it to find my registration. The cop didn’t even look at the registration but started asking me questions about the cow. “What was that? Where did the sound and light come from?” ect…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">Then he went over to my friend wanting to search her purse. My friend told him listen you’re not being very nice or approachable and I would appreciate if you would be a little nicer. The next thing I know he stepped back kinda apologized got back in his truck with the army and left. It was strange and I was shaking from head to toe. Very scary but I’m glad it turned out like it did. </div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Things like this really happen all the time but there are some stories one tells more than others. These would be the three more told stories thus far of the year. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In other news, I just got back to Guatemala after 11 fun days in Mexico. I was sick for about half of the trip but I got to travel to many places I’ve always wanted to go. Thanks to my wonderful mom and dad I had a new camera to capture the moments…. Enjoy <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-17ajA0pAJZU/TbzlVE5zmYI/AAAAAAAAAU4/gS9aJ6jwGNc/s1600/100_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="74" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-17ajA0pAJZU/TbzlVE5zmYI/AAAAAAAAAU4/gS9aJ6jwGNc/s320/100_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bb6KakmxaxA/TbzllVTWkKI/AAAAAAAAAU8/zdsTD5v3Aow/s1600/100_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="74" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bb6KakmxaxA/TbzllVTWkKI/AAAAAAAAAU8/zdsTD5v3Aow/s320/100_0006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I3CsKgK79HQ/Tbzlp3tUgEI/AAAAAAAAAVA/ZiG48R6Pjkg/s1600/100_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="78" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I3CsKgK79HQ/Tbzlp3tUgEI/AAAAAAAAAVA/ZiG48R6Pjkg/s320/100_0018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_OtnyHNHFng/Tbzl2Qs6y-I/AAAAAAAAAVE/bq86XNYms-s/s1600/100_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="85" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_OtnyHNHFng/Tbzl2Qs6y-I/AAAAAAAAAVE/bq86XNYms-s/s320/100_0039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--LEvxk-NWdA/TbzmEv5rIoI/AAAAAAAAAVI/ZD9tsogVEUA/s1600/100_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--LEvxk-NWdA/TbzmEv5rIoI/AAAAAAAAAVI/ZD9tsogVEUA/s200/100_0051.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ThO0OkIfh6o/TbzmXrwcMsI/AAAAAAAAAVM/uQLiVa_w8B0/s1600/100_0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ThO0OkIfh6o/TbzmXrwcMsI/AAAAAAAAAVM/uQLiVa_w8B0/s320/100_0124.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hr1ssW0_9JA/Tbznh3yoUII/AAAAAAAAAVQ/-OMu_-VhYzk/s1600/100_0160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hr1ssW0_9JA/Tbznh3yoUII/AAAAAAAAAVQ/-OMu_-VhYzk/s320/100_0160.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UuhEe-5AWvQ/Tbzni3THaII/AAAAAAAAAVU/Zgtx4abu7ds/s1600/100_0187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UuhEe-5AWvQ/Tbzni3THaII/AAAAAAAAAVU/Zgtx4abu7ds/s320/100_0187.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-42567642989402887722011-03-10T19:50:00.000-08:002011-03-10T19:50:11.279-08:00An Ode to my Dad: B.Powell<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Every now and then I have an overwhelming sense of belonging. It doesnt happen often but it did just the other day. At first I didnt know what caused this spark of comfort to occur. Today, however, it occured to me.&nbsp;</span><span dir="LTR" style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Location: Lumber Yard<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6nGQEpv6SQg/TXmaysYWeDI/AAAAAAAAAU0/a-vtd6FrO1k/s1600/lumber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6nGQEpv6SQg/TXmaysYWeDI/AAAAAAAAAU0/a-vtd6FrO1k/s320/lumber.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Now many people, especially women and tree huggers wouldnt really like lumber yards....especially in Guatemala. Men giving you an extra look maybe even a cat-call...dead trees</span><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;</span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">everywhere</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">. The other day I visited the local lumber yard here in Patzun to buy some materials and for some reason the smells and familiarity of the place simply made my spirit</span><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;</span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">happy.</span></i><i><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">I didn't put two and two together until I went back there this afternoon and thought about this while I was waiting for my receipt to be filled out. Duh Jackie...you freaking grew up in various lumber yards in Madison and Culpeper counties.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">At the heart of it, lumber got me a great education and a million invaluable experiences in life. Lumber is what my dad has hauled up and down the east coast my entire life. Picking up dad from the lumber yard as a kid and taking him home for the weekend is a sweet memory that I hadnt really thought much about until today.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Scents can tie together forgotten memories and today it was the scent of wood.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Unfortunately, this post is for my dad when it's my mom's birthday in just two days. But in a way it's for the three of us....happy birthday mom!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-24665986798512248662011-02-27T20:32:00.000-08:002011-02-27T20:32:06.847-08:00Allowing Comfort and Not Hitting Walls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qKM5ScA9dfo/TWsia6WogDI/AAAAAAAAAUI/DX7kvgNy30s/s1600/DSCF0165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qKM5ScA9dfo/TWsia6WogDI/AAAAAAAAAUI/DX7kvgNy30s/s320/DSCF0165.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;&nbsp;So, if you havent heard I am now a car-owner in Guatemala. But last week as I was preparing to pick up the cruiser I pre-reflected on my life in Guate sans car. Even though I'll get a lot more done and be more comfortable and secure, I'll miss sitting around waiting for transportation and the activities and friends that are created while doing so. Such an opportunity was playing ball with the kids of Sabalpop in Patzun this past week.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ak8_BnBugO0/TWsijigF9hI/AAAAAAAAAUM/dsBdPLLbXTs/s1600/DSCF0196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ak8_BnBugO0/TWsijigF9hI/AAAAAAAAAUM/dsBdPLLbXTs/s320/DSCF0196.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UYn3vrIEYxw/TWsinMvGmDI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/JfCSm-F9UdY/s1600/DSCF0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UYn3vrIEYxw/TWsinMvGmDI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/JfCSm-F9UdY/s320/DSCF0273.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;Donde acabe 9 acabe 11....Where 9 fit 11 also fit<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xUQybFV8u48/TWsi5VIBIqI/AAAAAAAAAUU/zvaf7DMx6Kk/s1600/DSCF0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xUQybFV8u48/TWsi5VIBIqI/AAAAAAAAAUU/zvaf7DMx6Kk/s320/DSCF0275.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;Celebrating Faby's bday at Cerro Santo Domingo!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ptdJ7RQb_NY/TWsi8fD6ZWI/AAAAAAAAAUY/6ZOww5BmVnE/s1600/DSCF0276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ptdJ7RQb_NY/TWsi8fD6ZWI/AAAAAAAAAUY/6ZOww5BmVnE/s320/DSCF0276.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;Beautiful sculptures and a view<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GKvCcxPBDz4/TWsjAPBjCFI/AAAAAAAAAUc/JFArO9r18kE/s1600/DSCF0279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GKvCcxPBDz4/TWsjAPBjCFI/AAAAAAAAAUc/JFArO9r18kE/s320/DSCF0279.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QQmVleCAXqg/TWsjDQEw0QI/AAAAAAAAAUg/qyxPjbgVtnw/s1600/DSCF0285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QQmVleCAXqg/TWsjDQEw0QI/AAAAAAAAAUg/qyxPjbgVtnw/s320/DSCF0285.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;Oh and then I bought gas for the first time in Guate. Pretty sure the gas-dude thought we were crazy<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4OMZFhR5nKQ/TWsjGm9SQJI/AAAAAAAAAUk/BdJeMFChHzs/s1600/DSCF0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4OMZFhR5nKQ/TWsjGm9SQJI/AAAAAAAAAUk/BdJeMFChHzs/s320/DSCF0288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;Erick making me feel better about how much it cost<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hzmLdhIVHyg/TWsjLG0oTCI/AAAAAAAAAUo/yzgYqfX6JFM/s1600/DSCF0291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hzmLdhIVHyg/TWsjLG0oTCI/AAAAAAAAAUo/yzgYqfX6JFM/s320/DSCF0291.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;Then Earth Lodge<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--JsiKIFMtdM/TWsjNGUtdHI/AAAAAAAAAUs/PfMg-MxmRd8/s1600/DSCF0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--JsiKIFMtdM/TWsjNGUtdHI/AAAAAAAAAUs/PfMg-MxmRd8/s320/DSCF0298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;Then a ballet!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-O8C1GiZcFKQ/TWsjRQApkQI/AAAAAAAAAUw/57n-NZt8S_0/s1600/DSCF0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-O8C1GiZcFKQ/TWsjRQApkQI/AAAAAAAAAUw/57n-NZt8S_0/s320/DSCF0304.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-80862303960051167302011-02-18T14:20:00.000-08:002011-02-18T14:20:06.925-08:00Remembering 2010 Before It's 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><br />I started out 2010 wearing a mustach and losing a favorite earring:<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3WcCRGi-dW0/TVNRdmsGwkI/AAAAAAAAATg/1KYaQdnzT6k/s1600/mustach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3WcCRGi-dW0/TVNRdmsGwkI/AAAAAAAAATg/1KYaQdnzT6k/s320/mustach.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><br /><br /><br />Then I drove through some blizzards, spun some records, and roller skated old-school style to Jay-Z's 'Empire State of Mind':<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zZ2OWeZzjD0/TVNRZkNJD8I/AAAAAAAAATY/P4MxxDnbgTk/s1600/el-dj-en-el-club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zZ2OWeZzjD0/TVNRZkNJD8I/AAAAAAAAATY/P4MxxDnbgTk/s200/el-dj-en-el-club.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />In some ways, these events helped me to prepare for my move to Guatemala on Janurary 28th-ish, 2010. Never in a million years could I have dreamed what life would have in store for me...<br /><br /><br />Learning lessons, asking questions...<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOE-pJG9ZhU/TVNVQvXLwuI/AAAAAAAAATo/R06K7ocgyZQ/s1600/questions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOE-pJG9ZhU/TVNVQvXLwuI/AAAAAAAAATo/R06K7ocgyZQ/s200/questions.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Finding my inner electrician, mechanic, and mason...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-54YbTK1vn9I/TVNRah5ZFOI/AAAAAAAAATc/qCX7L_UMpx8/s1600/handywoman-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-54YbTK1vn9I/TVNRah5ZFOI/AAAAAAAAATc/qCX7L_UMpx8/s1600/handywoman-full.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a><br /><br /><br />Finding my inner acrobat, personal assistant, artist....<br /><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SoNTWb5bVxk/TVNUXtRoMJI/AAAAAAAAATk/keg021tEn-g/s200/roberto+1+%252827%2529.JPG" width="200" /><br /><br />There were a few disapointments...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raqC61KHEaA/TVNYL081KzI/AAAAAAAAAT4/g1Pi47YlkNY/s1600/disapointment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raqC61KHEaA/TVNYL081KzI/AAAAAAAAAT4/g1Pi47YlkNY/s200/disapointment.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br />Yet still finding some of the 'bests' I've ever had in this small world of ours....<br /><br />Best Ice Cream and Best Ice Cream Atmosphere:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtGTv_104M0/TVNXDd6QItI/AAAAAAAAATs/1YKDFLw9fSE/s1600/CIMG4127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtGTv_104M0/TVNXDd6QItI/AAAAAAAAATs/1YKDFLw9fSE/s200/CIMG4127.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Best person to eat ice cream with <b>ever:&nbsp;</b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYr5YBhilk0/TV7u2Fa_KnI/AAAAAAAAAT8/5vXzXD87AAY/s1600/DSC01338a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYr5YBhilk0/TV7u2Fa_KnI/AAAAAAAAAT8/5vXzXD87AAY/s320/DSC01338a.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYr5YBhilk0/TV7u2Fa_KnI/AAAAAAAAAT8/5vXzXD87AAY/s1600/DSC01338a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><br /></span></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYr5YBhilk0/TV7u2Fa_KnI/AAAAAAAAAT8/5vXzXD87AAY/s1600/DSC01338a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">These girls are pretty sweet too:&nbsp;</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FPTZLpod1lg/TV7u-ZsuFHI/AAAAAAAAAUA/HHhthaOTCQU/s1600/IMG_6355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FPTZLpod1lg/TV7u-ZsuFHI/AAAAAAAAAUA/HHhthaOTCQU/s320/IMG_6355.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FPTZLpod1lg/TV7u-ZsuFHI/AAAAAAAAAUA/HHhthaOTCQU/s1600/IMG_6355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of my best purchases of 2010:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KOvxuX8cnao/TV7vAzfuawI/AAAAAAAAAUE/XQm1wVJe4_0/s1600/BRIREDGRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KOvxuX8cnao/TV7vAzfuawI/AAAAAAAAAUE/XQm1wVJe4_0/s200/BRIREDGRE.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Except mine is navy blue....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wanted to make this list longer by seem to never have time to think or update. So I'll end it there and try to make my blogs more constant this year...starting now, in Febuary.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /></div>Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-74717473830071501602010-11-06T13:45:00.000-07:002010-11-06T14:17:47.579-07:00Morals and Drunken Races>>TSC<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/TNXD8134qnI/AAAAAAAAATM/osy7X__7kcU/s1600/TSC1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/TNXD8134qnI/AAAAAAAAATM/osy7X__7kcU/s320/TSC1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Last week nine amazing friends, new and old, went on a trip of a lifetime. Why a lifetime? Because I’ll never do it again…but it was worth it cien por ciento (100%).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We headed to Todos Santos Cuchumatan (TSC) to see, celebrate, and experience their famous November 1<sup>st</sup> horse races. We tried to make plans before going, transportation and lodging, because we knew it could be rough and expensive doing it as we went. But as we all know plans often don’t ever work out here…so, how do I put it? The plans fell through at the very last of minutes and we fell into winging-it once again. What happened doesn’t need to be expressed in any detail other than to say…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Forgiveness isn’t a natural instinct. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">At least it isn’t for me. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The unraveling of events that led us (for a brief moment) with nowhere to stay made me question (and I’m still pondering) many things: people, intentions, institutions, fear, belief, diversity, quality, reactions…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Basically, when we have the opportunity to be open and hospitable, to learn and share with others….don’t screw it up if you happen to be a person and/or an organization who celebrates diversity.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Although I’m still stunned by the unmentioned event, our group of ten did not let it deter us from having a wonderful adventure in TSC amid the celebrations of death and life.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">TSC is a small but famous village located in the western highlands of Guatemala and is known for little but its November 1<sup>st</sup> celebration. The story goes that back during colonization the Spanish didn’t allow the indigenous peoples to ride horses. One day (or night) someone in TSC got really drunk, hoped on a horse and showed those Spaniards that they too could ride horses. The modern day version of this is celebrated on November 1<sup>st</sup>, All Saints Day. A part of a road in town in blocked off and drunken men ride their horsed back and forth all-day-long----</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It isn’t really a race because there are no winners. Anyone can participate (as did three of our ten). Spectators are basically waiting for someone to fall off or for a funny scream from a rider. If someone does happen to fall off, get trampled on and then die it’s considered a sign for a good harvest the next year. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you can’t already tell, for me there was much more to this weekend than the drunken horse “race.” There was even more to it than seeing a new part of Guatemala (because TSC is VERY much like Nebaj). For me it was a weekend of making incredible new friends, having great conversations, playing games, and creating memories. Our group was diverse, four Guatemalans, an Australian, an Englishman, and four North Americans.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">For me, it was wonderful to experience TSC though their eyes. Sometimes you need a new perspective ---a positive one--- to reawaken all that you loved about Latin America to start with. Sometimes you need to stop judging and start appreciating. Sometimes you need to relax, laugh, and let go. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A few people I shared this with:</div><div class="MsoNormal">Check out Connor’s<a href="http://connorboals.com/"> site</a> about TSC---he even made a video! </div><div class="MsoNormal">Designer, Ana Karen’s <a href="http://www.esperanzanyc.com/">site</a> </div><div class="MsoNormal">Personal blogs of <a href="http://juanpabloarocha.blogspot.com/">Juan Pablo</a>, <a href="http://lifewithoutreverse.tumblr.com/">Chris</a>, and <a href="http://karenbarnett.blogspot.com/2010/11/dont-drink-and-ride.html?spref=fb">Karen</a>.&nbsp;</div>Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-62106135639561245162010-10-18T16:03:00.000-07:002010-10-18T16:03:26.550-07:00SO many changes<div class="MsoNormal">Once again, crazy is the only way to describe my life over the past two weeks but it’s the good----no even GREAT---type of crazy, don’t worry! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ll try to put this in some sort of order but here we go: what APS and I have been working on….</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Due to my persistant recommendations, we’re most likely getting two Healthy Schools Peace Corps Volunteers to Nebaj in March 2012!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The 30 Healthy School/Rotary Club project is coming together poco a poco…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I have been linking together several major organizations (not sure if I should name names?) to work together on school sanitation projects all over the country!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I quickly organized an event in Nebaj’s plaza for <a href="http://www.globalhandwashingday.org/">Global Handwashing Day</a> on Oct. 15<sup>th</sup>! Although I was unable to attend and participate it was a HUGE success combining three other organizations around Nebaj and the local public who happened to be passing through the park. What happened? We took flyers and soap to the plaza where people washed their hands in the fountain! <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&amp;pid=gmail&amp;attid=0.1&amp;thid=12bbadb870cad848&amp;mt=application/msword&amp;url=https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui%3D2%26ik%3Ddb1d7e7033%26view%3Datt%26th%3D12bbadb870cad848%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Dattd%26realattid%3Df_gfe2tvtz1%26zw&amp;sig=AHIEtbQMLuRERyX5-yBCoGMyuGP874QO5A&amp;pli=1">Check out the photos</a>!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I was reminded by my wonderful friend Joan that Oct 15<sup>th</sup> was also Blog Action Day. Blog Action Day picks one topic and elaborates on it. This year’s theme was WATER! Joan shared this <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/10/8-facts-you-didnt-know-about-water.php">link</a> with me, check it out!&nbsp;&nbsp;Now I’m trying to play catch-up and do my own Blog Action…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m going to work on a radio initiative with <a href="http://www.culturalsurvival.org/">Cultural Survival</a> to get messages out about hygiene and water issues. The messages will be in Ixil (the language spoken in Nebaj) and possibly other indigenous languages! It’s a great and simple tool to communicate with the local population as in many parts of Guatemala and the WORLD it is the only source of information rural communities have. Celebrate radios!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Another exciting update is that Jodi and Tristian Moss’ hard work back in April as PhotoPhilanthropists has come to fruition on the Peer Water Exchange website! <a href="http://blueplanetnetwork.org/stories/agua-para-la-salud/">Check it out</a> and especially the links to the stories on the left side! We are excited to host another PhotoPhilanthropist in November! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My personal update would be that I’ve been busy, doing site visits, giving health lessons at schools, saying goodbye to good friends, welcoming new friends, and really getting comfortable in my new home. Siobhan has been a tremendous help to this process too as she surprised me with a completely made over living room when I came home after a weekend in Antigua. She even made an excel sheet with all 620 books and plans to classify them! Also, I bought Scott’s bed after he left and now I’m sleeping like a rock instead of sleeping on a rock…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Thanks for being involved!</div>Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-19672215627902580572010-10-02T19:01:00.000-07:002010-10-05T12:47:25.081-07:00Giant buckets, bike races, dancing trees, and landslides<div class="MsoNormal">September was full of settling and shaking things up a bit. I came back to Nebaj for a few weeks to ground myself after a busy August. I started working more intently on Healthy Schools in Nebaj and was surprised and happy to see that some of the parents began sending their kids to school with toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, towel, etc. So now when I visit the schools I can incorporate these materials into the lessons!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">September 15<sup>th</sup> is Guatemalan Independence Day and I spent the day with friends in Nebaj watching the parade, eating good food, watching football, etc. The two most interesting parts of the parade were people dressed up as trees with signs saying “Don’t cut down trees” and Guatemalans dressed up as gringos with huge plastic, caricature-like masks. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">At some point that week Scott made a Guatemalan bucket-list of things he needs to go in Guate before flying out mid-October. Xocomil was on that list and with Jenny’s help we were able to make that happen the weekend after Independence Day. Jenny lives here in Nebaj and has a car so she drove a bunch of us to Xela and then to Xocomil the next day for a great day of fun in the sun at Guatemala’s best (only?) water park! It was very high-class and we were spoiling ourselves but it was great fun.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>I then traveled back to Antigua where I spent a few days with friends, new and old. At dinner one night I met a freelance journalist, Connor, who came to Guate to learn Spanish and happened upon an interesting event in Panajachel: the 18<sup>th</sup> annual Cycle Messenger World Championships. Kinda random, but even more random that this was the first year it wasn’t held in Japan or the US. You can read about it and be entertained by other articles here: <a href="http://connorboals.com/">http://connorboals.com/</a> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Then on a Tuesday night Scott and I traveled to Guate City and crossed another item of his bucket-list: TGI Fridays. We ran up the bill, enjoyed some Negros Modelos, and learned that you should call at least a half-hour early for a taxi when in make-believe suburban America. We managed to only arrive 10 minutes late to the airport where we met Siobhan! She’s the new volunteer for Agua para la Salud and my new house mate. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Siobhan, Scott, FABIOLA!!, and I traveled back to Nebaj on a Thursday morning. I say Fabiola with excitement because she was able to find some time to come visit me in between her intense last few months of university. We had some great plans for that weekend but unfortunately it has started to rain relentlessly in Nebaj. We spent a lot of time indoors, playing games, cooking, and eating. Sunday the clouds parted and we hiked to the mirador to get a nice view of Nebaj just before Faby left on her long bus ride back to the city…which was not complete without a little boy throwing up on his chickens (of course!). </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Since then I have been busy in meetings and orienting Siobhan to Nebaj life. We are trying to get a Peace Corps Healthy School volunteer here in March. The support from the needed authorities has been wonderful and I have high hopes for our hard work. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately the rain has not stopped, at ALL. There was a Peace Corps lake reunion planned for the first weekend of Oct that we were unable to attend because of road conditions---especially the landslides. We tried leaving for a Saturday day-trip to Huehue instead and we literally couldn’t get out of Nebaj because of a huge landslide just outside of town---on the only road leading out! I’m hoping the worse of the rains will be over come November but this rainy season has been fierce and unyielding. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-10572533666343782392010-09-28T14:56:00.001-07:002010-09-28T15:35:10.138-07:00Nica ReportHere is the report I wrote summarizing my experience with Agua para la Vida in Rio Blanco, Nicaragua. The original has photos but as I've posted Jon's link (below) you can read this and then view the photos. Enjoy!<br /><br />As a Program Coordinator for Agua para la Salud in Nebaj, Guatemala I had the rare opportunity to visit Agua para la Vida in Nicaragua. APLV has completed over 50 water and sanitation projects all over Nicaragua with offices located in Managua and Rio Blanco. The purpose of my visit was to learn not only about their past and present projects but to familiarize myself with the extensive organizational network that APLV has constructed to address all aspects and issues of their projects. <br /><br />During my five day stay in Rio Blanco I had the opportunity to visit three nearby project sites with various specialists from Agua para la Vida, local members of water committees, and a volunteer photographer from PhotoPhilanthropy, Jon Polka. Commonalities between the sites were easy to diagnose as all villages had few economic resources and were extremely rural and disperse which lead to the great need of a reliable and nearby water resource and sanitation facilities. <br /><br />Day One: Tri-Community Water System <br /><br />The first site we visited was located two hours from Rio Blanco and is a current project site serving the three communities of Quirragua, El Carmen, and San Isidro (111 families in total). Upon arriving, we hopped on horses waiting for us at the entrance of San Isidro. The horses were necessary for two reasons: the rainy season in Nicaragua creates deep pockets of mud difficult to pass through on foot and the three communities are located several kilometres away from each other with no road access. <br />This large project began when the community of El Carmen began to look for a water resource in order to provide water for their community. The spring they located was eight kilometres away in the village of Quirragua. It was decided during the initiation of the project to include the village of San Isidro as well to the conduction lines since it is located between El Carmen and Quirragua. <br /><br />First, we visited the school of San Isidro and met with the local water committee or CAPS (Comité de Agua Potable y Saneamiento or Committee of Potable Water and Health). From their introduction and brief words shared it was clear that APLV has not only formed excellent relations with the community but APVL has also created tight work strategies within the communities. Each CAPS committee not only has a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer but there are also individuals with the titles of Health Promoter, Environmental Promoter, and a Maintenance Representative. Each of these posts works alongside their APLV counterpart throughout the implementation of the project. The APVL counterpart gives several educational workshops members of CAPS and the community in order to assure the communities knowledge of the project, system maintenance, healthy habits, and environmental care.<br />After lunch we saddled up to visit the spring site located in Quirragua. CAPS and other community members joined us on our trek to the site and once we arrived it was quite the communal celebration of drinking water from the spring. Overall it was an excellent day spent seeing and learning how the communities and APLV work together. <br /><br />Day Two: APLV Office in Rio Blanco<br /><br />The next day I spent some time in the Rio Blanco office where I visited with Esteban Cantillano who is responsible for the monitoring of finished projects, potable water, and overall health of the communities. In other words, Esteban is the maintenance monitor for all of the projects APLV has done and will do in the future. In order to manage his time he dutifully trains CAPS and the community during the realization of the project. Due to content, his trainings are often long and intense yet he tries to make them as fun and interactive as possible. He also believes in teamwork and hones in on this skill development throughout his community trainings. His job can be looked at as the sustainability element of the organization because he does not want a small issue to get in the way of the community having access to water in the future. <br /><br />Unfortunately Esteban´s job does have major hurdles to overcome. First, he was eager to remind me that his job does not begin at the end of the project. Instead, he feels as though he must keep a close watch on every step of the project to prevent future complications and issues. Furthermore, his job is made even more complicated when members of CAPS change and he has to re-train members. Unlike the other sections of APLV who have multiple employees, Esteban is overseeing every project maintenance issue himself. Additionally, Esteban must travel by public transportation to visit the sites which cuts into his time with each community. Each of these issues boil down to a common concern when it comes to maintenance and sustainability in any NGO: funding. <br /><br />Escuela Technica de Agua Portable <br /><br />Next, I visited ETAP- Escuela Technica de Agua Portable or Technical School for Potable Water. The story goes the APLV´s co-founder, Gilles Corcos, began this in-residence technical training course in 1996 after meeting a younger and eager-to-learn Esteban Cantillano. In return Esteban became one of six students to first graduate from ETAP. Currently, the school is comprised of eight recently graduated<br /><br />Day Three: River Captation Site<br /><br />On Wednesday we went back into the field to visit an extraordinary open river captation site located in the village of Enea. Like the majority of the villages APLV works with, Enea is a very disperse community but with a very unique situation. For twenty years families in Enea searched for a way to provide water to their homes. Prior to the water system, Enea residents were fetching water from the river between 2 and 4 in the morning because that is when they thought the water was most clean. Since the river was the main water source for the community, many engineering groups did technical analysis on the river and said a captation site could not be done. Enea kept searching. Finally, one day a pastor mentioned an organization he had heard of in Rio Blanco who worked in water projects. Representatives from Enea travelled to Rio Blanco and finally encountered APLV. After a diagnostic study and help in design from Gilles Corcos the community was told APLV could support the construction of their water system. After eight months of hard labour and sometimes working 24 hours a day in shifts, the 102 families of Enea now have water in their homes. <br /><br />In my experience I found the residents of Enea to be very proud of the hard work they have put forth to complete their water system and further develop their community. Moreover, they are extremely grateful to APLV not only for their technical support and help funding the project but for the trainings they executed. One of the health promoters in Enea openly shared that because of the trainings the residents of Enea now understand that water fetched directly from the river at any hour is contaminated. <br />Day Four: Health Education Workshop<br /><br />On Thursday we paid our final field visit to the community of Carrizal of forty-three families where Health and Hygiene Promoter, Lilian Obando, was giving an educational workshop to the women beneficiaries of Carrizal on the use and management of water. With every project APLV executes a health promoter from APLV gives four health trainings to CAPS members and four to the beneficiaries. Although all members of the community are important to involve, Lilian enjoys having a few trainings for only the women in the community since they are the ones whose lives are directly affected by water. When we arrived at the school at 1pm there was a group of eager women awaiting us. The hour long workshop seemed to be a dynamic and fun experience for all involved. The training included songs, skits, poems, games, teamwork, and lots of participation, smiles and laughter. It was very clear that Lilian´s means of educating communities is fluid from her almost fifteen years working as Health and Hygiene Promoter of APLV. <br />Additional workshops and responsibilities of Lilian includes but is not limited to teaching beneficiaries how to construct their own latrine, working with local schools, health posts, and the Ministry of Education to provide health classes in schools, home visits to understand economic and social conditions of each family and sometimes helping them locate other local resources such as women´s shelters or homes for the handicapped. The job of the Health and Hygiene Promoter, like all the promoters at APLV, is essential to the holistic approach engrained into the organization. <br /><br />Before the workshop commenced we joined Lilian to visit a few families who were in the process of installing their water meters. Water meters are an extremely important and useful tool APLV has been using the keep track of water used and therefore how much each family needs to pay. These monthly fees are then deposited into a bank account controlled by CAPS and used when repairs are needed to be made. <br />Conclusions<br /><br />In conclusion, my experience with APLV and their welcoming staff was overwhelmingly positive. As noted in this report, APLV has an extensive network within their organization that seems to be functioning with few troubles. Unfortunately my short visit cannot capture this picture entirely. I was unable to personally meet and/or speak in-depth with the Reforestation Manager, Social Promoters, Accountant, National Coordinator, Technical Staff, Masons, and Board of Directors whose jobs are also essential to the success of APLV and the communities in which they work. <br />A&nbsp;comparison between Agua para la Salud and Agua para la Vida is possible but not without limitations. The main difference between APS and APLV is the size of the organizations. APLV has over double the staff of APS and therefore is able to hone in on certain topics more than APS. However, the main purpose, goals, and methodology of APS and APLV are strikingly similar: to organize and work with local, rural populations in order to provide reliable water sources and sanitation facilities to communities and schools while also educating the beneficiaries on environmental and health impacts as well as maintenance concerns.<br /><br />Agua para la Vida's website is: <a href="http://www.aplv.org/">http://www.aplv.org/</a>Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-88763222698247853492010-09-01T12:40:00.000-07:002010-09-01T12:40:56.860-07:00NicaraguaaaaaSo I'm back in Nebaj, Guatemala after my crazy month of travels. While in Nica I visited Agua para la Vida's project and office as well as helped out a photographer (Jon) who came to take some great shots of what APLV is doing. Here is Jon's flicker site: enjoy!<br /><br />flickr.com/photos/jonpolkaJackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-71960436512474810112010-08-24T08:57:00.000-07:002010-08-24T08:57:40.781-07:00Ignorance is Bliss…and PoopI have wanted to write this blog post for a while. <br /><br /><br />A few weeks ago went home to attend Ali Moyer Flores’ wedding. After the wedding my college roommates and I went to the beach. Becky and I carpooled together and at one very posh rest stop (Wawa’s is a step up from Los Encuentros) we stepped into the ladies room . We entered a scene you often find in the bathroom. You have one or more persons waiting to use the services and a door to one stall wide open ready to use. You give the person already waiting a “are you waiting to use the bathroom/why aren’t you using that stall?” look and she verbally responds “oh you don’t wanna go in there!” You wait until a “clean” stall is available and do your business without giving the clogged/unclean toilet another thought. Well I gave it another thought as I waited for my seemingly motion-censored toilet to flush itself. Then I noted a button on the side of the toilet. I pushed it and the toilet flushed. MAGIC …not really<br /><br />So, what did I do? I went and “magically” fixed the toilet we were all avoiding. All its contents successfully went down that magic pipe that no one thinks about and we once again had all three stalls working. <br /><br />This same exact situation happened to me just a few days ago in the Nicaraguan airport. I knew exactly what was happening and flushed that shit straight down, literally. <br /><br />So, when I was in that Wawa’s bathroom with Becky and I sent the floaters into the bowels of the earth I was strongly reminded of my job in Guatemala. Agua para la Salud is focusing on building hand washing stations and bathrooms at schools. We often debate on the best type of toilets to install: traditional porcelain toilets or latrines. Everyone wants flush toilets but no one maintains them. Simply put, latrines are straightforward, fool-proof but the porcelain gods on the other hand break, clog, or waste water from constantly running water (but they’re pretty, generally don’t smell, and are “development”). The truth about flush toilet issues is that they are actually relatively easy to fix and maintain---almost as easy as pushing that button in the Wawa’s bathroom. <br /><br />What’s my point? The biggest issue we face in Agua para la Salud and the biggest issue any organization faces is maintenance, also known as sustainability. Another issue we have faced as an organization is relaying the importance and urgency of maintenance to donors and other supporters of our projects. In reality constructing the bathroom or any infrastructure is the easiest part of the process. Maintaining the system (through education) to work for years and decades to come is the battle that lasts forever. <br /><br />I am currently in Rio Blanco, Nicaragua visiting Agua para la Vida, an organization who does similar work to us but also has different management techniques. They have a maintenance manager who oversees all projects once they are complete. In addition to this they have an education manager who gives several workshops to the community before, during and after the construction period of the project. These two elements ensure that the community can oversee and maintain their project for generations to come.Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-63571856716340155762010-07-23T20:16:00.000-07:002010-07-26T14:13:52.940-07:00Travel and Love<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Well it´s about time for an update. I wanted to do one before it was over a month since my last one.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/TEpH23Q0iJI/AAAAAAAAAS8/sQ7vl6F44oU/s1600/IMG_6733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/TEpH23Q0iJI/AAAAAAAAAS8/sQ7vl6F44oU/s320/IMG_6733.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These guys played music at a school bathroom inauguration. Check out that hand carved violin!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Mom left teary eyed on July 3rd. I know she had a nice vacation and didn’t want it to end so that was nice. I watched Argentina lose horribly after her departure…which was when I cried. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />The next day a great group of friends and I headed to Guate City for a Cultura Profetica concert. Cultura Profetica is a famous Puerto Rican reggae band. Like most things in Latin America this event was pretty poorly organized. Well let´s just say it´s probably the worst organized event I´ve been to in Latin America. Long story short is that we waited for them to arrive at the venue for over 6 hours…I think…I don’t actually want to remember how long we waited. By the time they got one we were all a little tired. But they are still a great band and I would see them again in a heartbeat! </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/TEpE-3KFS-I/AAAAAAAAASs/QKm7MLhpQew/s1600/IMG_6751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/TEpE-3KFS-I/AAAAAAAAASs/QKm7MLhpQew/s320/IMG_6751.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dani, Rose, me, Faby, and Claudia (couch surfing friend)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/TEpGlkwhabI/AAAAAAAAAS0/TKi9OU04WfU/s1600/IMG_6766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/TEpGlkwhabI/AAAAAAAAAS0/TKi9OU04WfU/s320/IMG_6766.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I picked up a great family at the airport and then brought them to Nebaj for a dedication to a school they helped build from their Rotary Club in Washington state. I had a really nice time with them as their one son was a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay in the 90s and had lots of great stories. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />Then my French friend, Coralie, came to NEBAJ! Besides my mom she was my first visitor which made me super happy. We hiked to a well known cheese farm one afternoon and then she made a splendid crepe dinner for me and some friends. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />I have finally made some great friends in Nebaj. There are a few Peace Corps volunteers here and Scott and John and I have really hit it off. They come over practically every other day to make dinner with me---super fun and leaves little time to get lonely. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />Work is really picking up. I´m helping give some talks about water projects to Peace Corps volunteers at their meetings and doing lots of other projects at the same time. It´s all rather complicated but let me just tell you how great it makes me feel to be chipping away and little by little getting some good stuff done! </div><br />The biggest news is that Lynn has offered me an all paid for trip to Nicaragua the 3rd week of August. I get to go look what water projects they are doing in Nicaragua and share with them what we are doing here. Plus I get to see some family and friends in Nica, which I´m super excited about! <br /><br />Before all of that though…I´m headed home for the first week of August for Ali´s wedding and a beach trip with the college roommates!! Super excited as well about that. <br /><br />Life is pretty swell and I swear I can still find time for visitors!Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-61908121603479807562010-07-01T20:11:00.000-07:002010-07-14T10:18:12.625-07:00Busy Bee<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Hello again to all! Since I last wrote, I’ve barely had a moment to breath. I’m really starting to live in Guatemala. I have my home and friends here now and it feels really really great.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I last wrote in May and now it’s July…where to begin!? </div><br />Well I went home for a week where I said goodbye to Dottie and celebrated my birthday with some close friends and family. It was a hectic week but a great refresher and I brought back enough trail mix for a few months at least. <br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When I got back to Guate I spent a few days readjusting and realizing that this is now the place I call home. I went to Nebaj a few days later where I spent a rather lonely week working. I say lonely only because this is when hurricane Agatha hit, the volcano erupted, and a huge sink hole was created in the middle of the city. What fun! However, I was safe in the highlands of Nebaj but didn’t leave the house for days because of the rains. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After a week in Nebaj I traveled back to Antigua where I met my roommate from college, Julie, at the airport! I was about an hour late arriving and ran the last bit in the pouring down rain. It was quite a scene…I showed Julie around Antigua and we met up with some of my friends. Then we went to Lake Atitlan for both of our first times (!!). It was a little rainy and cold---not the best first lake experience but what I love about Julie is her laid-backness. So we had a good time just being together, watching movies, buying acorns, and going to bed early. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/TD3uBKlMyLI/AAAAAAAAASM/npTofMPSiwU/s1600/IMG_1130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/TD3uBKlMyLI/AAAAAAAAASM/npTofMPSiwU/s320/IMG_1130.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/TD3vX2eE4CI/AAAAAAAAASc/8by0jR5xCQM/s1600/IMG_6546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/TD3vX2eE4CI/AAAAAAAAASc/8by0jR5xCQM/s320/IMG_6546.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Then Julie and I traveled to Momostenango for a week and helped build a hand washing station in a school a Peace Corps volunteer and friend. Once again, I had an amazing time with Julie in Momos. She fit right in and loved helping out. She also made some cute little dolls from construction scraps when there was a lull in work. I can’t nor do I have time to try to explain how grateful I was to have Julie’s presence for two weeks. Time flew and work got done!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/TD3uUdmziDI/AAAAAAAAASU/M9tGEZFTodA/s1600/IMG_1276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/TD3uUdmziDI/AAAAAAAAASU/M9tGEZFTodA/s320/IMG_1276.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Next, my mom and my aunt Betsey arrived. Their time with Julie overlapped about 5 days. We stayed around Antigua for most of this time and went to the lake for two days as well. I also got many of my friends together in Antigua to have a dinner party at Danielle and Erick’s home. The rain held off and the food (and wine) was delicious!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/TD3v8GpE6cI/AAAAAAAAASk/Y69GL4CDAjg/s1600/IMG_1123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/TD3v8GpE6cI/AAAAAAAAASk/Y69GL4CDAjg/s320/IMG_1123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I said a teary goodbye to Julie (well not really, but my heart was and still is sad that she’s not here) and begged her to consider moving here…she heard a lot of this all week long from a variety of sources. I spent another day with mom and Betsey doing last minute errands before Betsey flew off the next day. Mom and I stayed in Antigua for the weekend and watch a lot of the Mundial (World Cup). Argentina’s doing greatttt and I’m excited (and a bit nervous) for their game against Germany on Saturday morning! (update, the pulpo is all knowing and Spain won...)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Then mom and I headed on the dreaded 5 hour chicken bus ride to Nebaj. I caught back up with Lynn and turned in some of the things I’ve been working on. It has been nice to have someone in Nebaj to run errands with and cook meals with, I will be sad when she leaves in two days. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The months of July and August are getting more and more packed with fun things for me to do. We have two groups coming in July and I fly home in August for Ali Moyer’s wedding and a beach trip with my roommates from Gettysburg. When I get back in August there is another group of engineers coming to build a water system and I will be trying to keep track of things in Nebaj as Lynn will be gone for the entire month of August. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Whew! Hopefully I can write more cute antidotes in the coming weeks of my time here in Guate…but for now all I can do is give you this summary of why I really enjoy life here—so come visit!</div>Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-2678368326566746412010-05-14T14:18:00.000-07:002010-05-15T11:56:57.814-07:00As the Seasons Change…I´ll admit, it´s been a while. So much has happened for the better and the worse. Let´s see…in April I took a half day off to be a ¨tourist for a day¨ with my friend Fabiola. We ate yummie veggie food and traditional Guatemalan sweets then went to Las Capuchinas, the ruin of an old 18th century convent. Then we went to the paca which is behind the market and filled with great second hand clothing from the states (lots from Target with the tags still on!). To end our crazy long day we did some relaxing (not really) yoga. Then, I went to my first Guatemalan wedding! Sisi from the office tied the knot and invited me to share this lovely experience with her family and friends. It was a great night with lots of fun and dancing! I also had my first visitors Kristin and Stephanie who graduated Gettysburg a year before me. They were planning a long weekend vacation to Guate and decided to get my advice on it since I´ve traveled so much. Then they realized I´m living here! It was perfect and I finally got to be a tour guide in Antigua, go dancing, and just have some fun.<br />Then the last two weeks of April I went to Nebaj, Quiche to help Agua para la Salud and learn how to build a hand washing station that we will be constructing in a school in Momostenango in which a friend and Peace Corps Volunteer volunteers. Once again, I had a great time with Lynn and the Engineers without Borders group that came and supported the projects. I also had a nice time in Nebaj. It´s a small town but a bit bigger than Momos and it´s generally not a tourist location except for those who really want to get off the beaten path and do some highland hiking. There was also a great restaurant we ate at every night that makes their own soy milk, soy ice cream, tofu, flour tortillas, etc. Yummmm and much better than eggs, beans, and tortillas. There was also two photo journalist with us for the week taking pictures of the project. Here are some of the photos shot. Check them out they are AMAZING! <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tristanmoss/sets/72157623886072560/?page=2">http://www.flickr.com/photos/tristanmoss/sets/72157623886072560/?page=2</a><br /><br />For some bigger news and to make a long story short I have decided to refocus my time here and work for Lynn. It was not an easy decision but one that CasaSito supports and understands. One of my main projects with Lynn is helping a group of Peace Corps Volunteers apply for grants to obtain hand washing stations at their respective schools. More of my job description is to be worked out when I get back from the States.<br />What´s that?! Yes, I´m coming home this Sunday, May 16th. Visitors welcome! Unfortunately, it´s not a happy reason for my surprise visit as Dottie has gotten very ill and my family and I think it´s best for me to see her now when she´s still more or less coherent. It will be a sad and hard visit I´m sure. My computer has also broken and need some TLC from the states so I´m hoping for it to be a very productive visit.<br />Enjoy some pictures from the last month!<br />J<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S-3AppRs8uI/AAAAAAAAASE/ntqAtyV9_tg/s1600/IMG_0759.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471240944012292834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S-3AppRs8uI/AAAAAAAAASE/ntqAtyV9_tg/s320/IMG_0759.JPG" border="0" /></a> Five flush bathrooms and a hand washing station going up in a village outside of Nebaj.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S-3ApeOrQ9I/AAAAAAAAAR8/fr_sx2HCs64/s1600/IMG_6355.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471240941046809554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S-3ApeOrQ9I/AAAAAAAAAR8/fr_sx2HCs64/s320/IMG_6355.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sisi´s wedding! Danielle, me, and Amanda!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S-3Aovh9EII/AAAAAAAAAR0/Bp61IOKvIHs/s1600/IMG_6345.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471240928511201410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S-3Aovh9EII/AAAAAAAAAR0/Bp61IOKvIHs/s320/IMG_6345.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S-3AoVnwt3I/AAAAAAAAARs/Vu3wruQXLuk/s1600/IMG_6401.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471240921556236146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S-3AoVnwt3I/AAAAAAAAARs/Vu3wruQXLuk/s320/IMG_6401.JPG" border="0" /></a> Kristin and me at Santo Domingo---Antigua´s 5 star hotel located in beautiful ruins.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S-3AnwnZp8I/AAAAAAAAARk/gzxR4hZ2XtM/s1600/IMG_6322.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471240911622612930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S-3AnwnZp8I/AAAAAAAAARk/gzxR4hZ2XtM/s320/IMG_6322.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Faby and me at Las Capuchinas.Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-70372114202133552222010-04-04T12:28:00.000-07:002010-04-04T16:20:19.059-07:00Semana Santa in AntiguaAfter I got back from Momos and had a good 24 hours of rest to get all sickness out of my system, it was time to celebrate Semana Santa! Semana Santa translates to Holy Week and in my opionion it’s one of the biggest pre-Easter celebrations in Latin America. I remember learning about Semana Santa in my high school Spanish classes and I was excited to be a part of it albeit nothing’s as cool as it seemed in high school. Mainly Guatemala is known for their carpets. Anyone can make a carpet out of any material for the processions. The carpets or alfolmbras are traditionally made out of colorful sawdust but you can use anything: flowers, food, etc. I had the honor and luck to help make TWO alfolmbras with the family I’m living with. Like most things in life, once you do it you have more appreciation for it. So alfolmbra making was a similar experience. Our alfolmbras were simple and nice yet time consuming and a bit challenging to make. After you make the alfolmbra you basically wait for the procession to come and destroy it. During this process I got to hang out and meet the extended family of the family I live with. It has been an interesting and at time lazy week and I’m excited to get back to my normal work routine but I’m happy I can say I have finally experienced Semana Santa in Guate! <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7kXupn7LII/AAAAAAAAARc/2n5ge_eqdLw/s1600/IMG_6292.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7kXupn7LII/AAAAAAAAARc/2n5ge_eqdLw/s320/IMG_6292.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456418513750797442" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7kXthSeiAI/AAAAAAAAARU/_xdXMv4m_E4/s1600/IMG_6291.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7kXthSeiAI/AAAAAAAAARU/_xdXMv4m_E4/s320/IMG_6291.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456418494333487106" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7kXspYMa2I/AAAAAAAAARM/5Vm5xQW7BB8/s1600/IMG_6284.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7kXspYMa2I/AAAAAAAAARM/5Vm5xQW7BB8/s320/IMG_6284.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456418479325080418" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7kXriPCcDI/AAAAAAAAARE/ssBSkEaaLJY/s1600/IMG_6272.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7kXriPCcDI/AAAAAAAAARE/ssBSkEaaLJY/s320/IMG_6272.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456418460227760178" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7kXrRJaouI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/8RU4JNyyJkE/s1600/IMG_6262.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7kXrRJaouI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/8RU4JNyyJkE/s320/IMG_6262.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456418455640777442" /></a>Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-3011257728307300282010-04-04T12:09:00.000-07:002010-04-04T12:26:14.912-07:00Another Tank!Hello all! About a week ago I went back up north to Momostenango with Greg and some volunteers to build the third rain water catchment tank of the year. This time we decided to try an above ground, can-shaped tank. We ran into some problems like volunteer-shortage, over working, working on a really tall tank, illness, etc. but all around it was a very successful process. Since it was the first of its kind, we know the process can only get easier. In addition the scaffolding was nuts and I swear I can put "stunt double" on my CV now! Here are some pictures!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7jnbf1hUsI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/chk_9pcL3y0/s1600/IMG_1646.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7jnbf1hUsI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/chk_9pcL3y0/s320/IMG_1646.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456365408147821250" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7jnatrwBfI/AAAAAAAAAQs/BYJ-M1TGXUw/s1600/roberto+(19).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7jnatrwBfI/AAAAAAAAAQs/BYJ-M1TGXUw/s320/roberto+(19).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456365394685068786" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7jnZTx2YTI/AAAAAAAAAQk/qnzhTn8987Y/s1600/roberto+(11).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7jnZTx2YTI/AAAAAAAAAQk/qnzhTn8987Y/s320/roberto+(11).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456365370551460146" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7jnYqWZHHI/AAAAAAAAAQc/j_f6UVzCgnw/s1600/roberto+(10).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S7jnYqWZHHI/AAAAAAAAAQc/j_f6UVzCgnw/s320/roberto+(10).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456365359430442098" /></a>Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-69245340206493155712010-03-22T20:08:00.000-07:002010-03-22T20:22:11.798-07:00Water Water Everywhere!First-<br /><br />Happy World Water Day!<br /><br />Of course I forgot about this until my dear friend Nancy in Argentina reminded me gently on facebook---thanks Nancy!<br /><br />Well this is what my life has been and will continue to be about for the next 10 months: water. <br /><br />I spent the last two weeks in the Los Encuentros area of Guatemala with another water organization helping build a 10,000 liter ferrocement storage tank as well as distribute water to 55 families in a sector of the aldea El Adelanto. In order to do this we were capturing water from a spring on the side of a mountain and then digging trenches and laying pipe for 16,000 feet over very rough terrain. However, I spent most of my time working on the water tank at the spring. I went along to learn how to make an above ground “can-shaped” tank and left with a dozen or more new friends. We are planning to leave tomorrow for Momos to build a smaller 4,000ish liter above ground tank. We are thinking it may be easier and less expensive and therefore we can forget the egg-shaped tank and concentrate on the above ground one.<br /><br />The best part about the two weeks working in El Adelanto was the people. Not only did I work with some talented Guatemalan masons but I also got to hang out with some awesome people from Wisconsin. The group of nine “sconnies” came from several parts of Wisconsin and the majority of them work in different water sectors such as water utility plants and most of them were engineers. They are all part of a social water club that has been coming to Guatemala for the last three years to do various water projects. Need less to say, we fell in love with each other. I especially fell in love with their sense of humor, love for water, and love of helping others. The only way I can describe them is as super balanced, down-to-earth people who really do care. Despite hearing how they were inspired by me, I felt the opposite. I found daily inspiration from them and truly thrived intellectually from them. <br /><br />I think I’m going to let the pictures tell the rest of the story. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gyQtoAGlI/AAAAAAAAAP0/naW-OOtHcAE/s1600-h/DSCF0954.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gyQtoAGlI/AAAAAAAAAP0/naW-OOtHcAE/s320/DSCF0954.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451662611638655570" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gyQJxF3HI/AAAAAAAAAPs/v7WjUsvmY7g/s1600-h/DSCF0957.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gyQJxF3HI/AAAAAAAAAPs/v7WjUsvmY7g/s320/DSCF0957.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451662602013105266" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gyP5LdkQI/AAAAAAAAAPk/5vYeoS-pAnE/s1600-h/DSCF0971.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gyP5LdkQI/AAAAAAAAAPk/5vYeoS-pAnE/s320/DSCF0971.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451662597560307970" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gyPqYLdiI/AAAAAAAAAPc/7n6CkU4pmNs/s1600-h/IMG_6240.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gyPqYLdiI/AAAAAAAAAPc/7n6CkU4pmNs/s320/IMG_6240.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451662593587115554" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gyPClMqYI/AAAAAAAAAPU/xNHRXllRRgk/s1600-h/DSC00399.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gyPClMqYI/AAAAAAAAAPU/xNHRXllRRgk/s320/DSC00399.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451662582904301954" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gxSbywsCI/AAAAAAAAAPM/jJ4onmXHzPY/s1600-h/DSC00484.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gxSbywsCI/AAAAAAAAAPM/jJ4onmXHzPY/s320/DSC00484.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451661541700055074" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gxR4dXZSI/AAAAAAAAAPE/F62cgWxdk5k/s1600-h/DSC00621.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gxR4dXZSI/AAAAAAAAAPE/F62cgWxdk5k/s320/DSC00621.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451661532215076130" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gxRq3ky0I/AAAAAAAAAO8/MBXwoulzVqg/s1600-h/DSCN4480.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gxRq3ky0I/AAAAAAAAAO8/MBXwoulzVqg/s320/DSCN4480.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451661528566909762" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gxRY5bHOI/AAAAAAAAAO0/oRxNU-hUDxY/s1600-h/DSCN4496.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gxRY5bHOI/AAAAAAAAAO0/oRxNU-hUDxY/s320/DSCN4496.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451661523742825698" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gxRATI0mI/AAAAAAAAAOs/KyFIhvr878w/s1600-h/DSCN4503.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S6gxRATI0mI/AAAAAAAAAOs/KyFIhvr878w/s320/DSCN4503.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451661517139792482" /></a>Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-77020910693400190222010-02-28T17:16:00.000-08:002010-02-28T18:28:32.448-08:00Two Tanks and a Learning CurveI have officially completed the first two tanks of 2010! These two tanks were my “training” tanks and Greg came along to show me the ropes. For the first tank, (funded by everyone’s generous contributions at home!) we hired a highly qualified and experienced mason, Nicolas, to help out and give us lots of good tips. The first tank we made with a group of volunteers and friends from CasaSito. The dynamics were good and I think we all had a fun and stimulating experience. On the first tank we changed up the design a bit and made a dome top made completely out of rebar. It was intense and pushed our work back half a day---but well worth it! It’s a beautiful, strong, and sturdy dome that we are all very proud of---though we aren’t sure we’ll be making any more of them because of time and costs. The family was also very appreciative of our time and efforts as well as put in quite a bit of work themselves! Check out the pictures! <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sXUYKFbkI/AAAAAAAAAMM/xuvtGlC5IUE/s1600-h/IMG_6010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sXUYKFbkI/AAAAAAAAAMM/xuvtGlC5IUE/s320/IMG_6010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443470213456948802" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sXUCjJ8WI/AAAAAAAAAME/flXj6Hhj8Fk/s1600-h/IMG_6003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sXUCjJ8WI/AAAAAAAAAME/flXj6Hhj8Fk/s320/IMG_6003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443470207656522082" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sXTszI7hI/AAAAAAAAAL8/WjQYIT6FpNg/s1600-h/IMG_6001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sXTszI7hI/AAAAAAAAAL8/WjQYIT6FpNg/s320/IMG_6001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443470201817984530" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sXTRTpqcI/AAAAAAAAAL0/po_HQ5URhAo/s1600-h/IMG_5995.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sXTRTpqcI/AAAAAAAAAL0/po_HQ5URhAo/s320/IMG_5995.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443470194438154690" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sXST23T8I/AAAAAAAAALs/nKDviojPpvE/s1600-h/IMG_5992.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sXST23T8I/AAAAAAAAALs/nKDviojPpvE/s320/IMG_5992.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443470177942851522" /></a><br /><br />The second tank was made and funded by the first volunteer tour group of El Camino VolunTours. I had the pleasure to get to know two single moms from Canada who were escaping the chaos of the Olympics and cold Canadian winter. These ladies were extremely hard workers who had some great ideas about the construction of the tank that we will use on future tanks as well. For this tank we did the old design which included making the dome out of a huge sawdust filled bag. In one month we will have to come back and take all that sawdust out! We are still trying to figure out new designs that will be economical, time-efficient, and sturdy. All suggestions welcome! Check out these pictures from tank two!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sl6pS12MI/AAAAAAAAANc/dwfaf67y3cw/s1600-h/DSCN2504.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sl6pS12MI/AAAAAAAAANc/dwfaf67y3cw/s320/DSCN2504.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443486264054896834" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sl5pm-UJI/AAAAAAAAANU/Gqxu9QUiLpw/s1600-h/DSCN2645.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sl5pm-UJI/AAAAAAAAANU/Gqxu9QUiLpw/s320/DSCN2645.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443486246959468690" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sl5Vb9iZI/AAAAAAAAANM/zfy_8tRmYuo/s1600-h/IMGP0555.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sl5Vb9iZI/AAAAAAAAANM/zfy_8tRmYuo/s320/IMGP0555.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443486241544571282" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sl4ziuH5I/AAAAAAAAANE/dUHQe1Spl8M/s1600-h/IMGP0558.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sl4ziuH5I/AAAAAAAAANE/dUHQe1Spl8M/s320/IMGP0558.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443486232446115730" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sl4k4a0KI/AAAAAAAAAM8/j5DJF8HqjWw/s1600-h/IMGP0566.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S4sl4k4a0KI/AAAAAAAAAM8/j5DJF8HqjWw/s320/IMGP0566.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443486228510593186" /></a><br /><br />I was invited by another group who makes water tanks to come help out and learn a thing or two about above ground tanks. I’ll be helping out with that the week of March 8th. Then we have selected our next in-ground tank recipients in Chocantariy. I will be going back to Momos around March 18th to do the third tank of 2010! We are also trying to implement a system where one family member has to help out with another tank before receiving one for themselves---similar to Habitat for Humanity. Hopefully we can get something running, though this is more difficult than it sounds. <br /><br />Thank you all for your abundant support and if anyone has suggestions on how to make a dome, feel free to share!<br /><br />JJackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-91587921394617633432010-02-09T19:30:00.000-08:002010-02-09T19:34:50.506-08:00'cause there's a million ways to go...Where do I begin? With the weekend of course!<br /><br />Friday we had a lovely presentation and dinner at a donor’s home to report what happened in 2009 and a vision for 2010. Their home was lovely as was the presentation, meal, and company. It was nice to meet other supporters of CasaSito along with the board members. It was also nice to curl up on their big comfy couches at the end of the night, sip wine and laugh. (For those of you who know PGL meetings; this had a very similar feel.) <br /><br />Saturday I met up with Giovanni in the park. I met Giovanni when I was apartment searching. I decided not to live with him and his roommates mainly for distance reasons. Giovanni is learning English so he inquired if I would be interested exchanging conversation to improve my Spanish and his English. I jumped on board. Saturday we sipped drinks from Café Condesa and talked for two hours. He’s an artist who recently painted a huge mural at his old elementary school with a friend. They even wrote an article about it in a local magazine, which he showed me. We planned to meet again Monday. <br /><br />That evening I volunteered at a Venetian Ball fund-raiser. It was held in the ruins of an old monastery. It was completely lit by candle light and the dirt paths were covered in pine needles and rose petals. It was all open air and one of the most GEORGIOUS events I have ever been a part of. There was an orchestra and for painters painting in the main grassy field. The paintings were auctioned off at the end of the night. Everyone who attended wore lavish costumes (even wigs and hoop skirts!) and masks. We left tired but quite impressed by the beauty of the evening. <br /><br />Sunday I woke up from a text message of a girl I met last weekend. Her name is Diana and she’s a missionary here. She invited me to lunch and since host families don’t cook on Sundays I quickly took her up on the offer. We ate at Mono Loco, a popular sports bar here. I had a burrito with sweet potatoes in it. It was delicious. The conversation, however, was just as great and I really feel like I have made yet another great friend! We went back to her beautiful home and went swimming in the community’s pool. It was nice to swim laps again and it reminded me of swimming with Shea in college. Then to offset our workout we made brownies and cookies to take to a Super Bowl party. A group of missionaries at her church were celebrating the Super Bowl together. About 40 of us crowded together to support our respective teams and eat and eat and eat. Oh my goodness it was so delicious it gave me a stomach ache! There were wings, veggie chili, Asian coleslaw, mac&cheese, buckeyes, guacamole, pineapple, sooo much delicious food. I asked where the Saints and Colts are from and some one (I’m pretty sure a Guatemalan) told me the Saints were from New Jersey (New Jersey, New Orleans…whatever?). Anyways, I think if I would have known I would have really gotten into the game. Oh well it was a good game and met lots of neat people- including another woman named Jackie Sue and born in May….<br /><br />When I got home after the Bowl I was exhausted but Stijn, the guy who also lives here, wanted to go salsa dancing so I gave in. When we got there I realized this was no place for me to dance, just watch. It was very impressive and I wanted to try but when I did I realized I was way too tired to get into it. Very sad<br /><br />Monday I was given the day off because we volunteered Saturday night. I rested for a majority of it then went to the library to get a tour from a guy I met at the Super Bowl party who works there and get my library card! Then Giovanni and I met and had a really great Spanish/English exchange. <br /><br />Tomorrow, Wednesday, I’m going to a sculpture exhibit and then to a free movie at the library with Fabiola a wonderful fun girl from Guatemala who is doing her college internship in graphic design with CasaSito. I’m excited to get to know her better and watch a free Argentine love film---since it’s the month of love here!<br /><br />Then Thursday I pack up and say goodbye to Antigua for a few weeks. I’m headed north to the land of Momos two help coordinate the construction of the first two water tanks of 2010! I’m excited to get my hands dirty and (hopefully) find my inner engineer? We’ll see! <br /><br />Later, I’ll hopefully post pictures from friends of the Venetian Ball!Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-21612617723116043352010-02-06T08:52:00.000-08:002010-02-10T08:39:11.192-08:00never felt better<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S22iYuv32xI/AAAAAAAAALk/sWSnxr9vICo/s1600-h/IMG_5976.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S22iYuv32xI/AAAAAAAAALk/sWSnxr9vICo/s200/IMG_5976.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435178871055440658" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S22iYXn_LCI/AAAAAAAAALc/FK8KN7grDaE/s1600-h/IMG_5974.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S22iYXn_LCI/AAAAAAAAALc/FK8KN7grDaE/s200/IMG_5974.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435178864848350242" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S22iX3p5O7I/AAAAAAAAALU/LKeW6YnYsS4/s1600-h/IMG_5975.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S22iX3p5O7I/AAAAAAAAALU/LKeW6YnYsS4/s200/IMG_5975.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435178856266415026" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S22iXnmDmVI/AAAAAAAAALM/rAKSWOWnT-I/s1600-h/IMG_5973.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/S22iXnmDmVI/AAAAAAAAALM/rAKSWOWnT-I/s200/IMG_5973.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435178851955349842" /></a><br />I've officially been living in Guatemala for over a week! It's been one of the most exciting and "right" experiences of my life. The minute I stepped off the plane I felt at home---the colors, tastes, sounds, etc. I can't begin to describe how well put together CasaSito (the ngo I'm working for) is. It's a family and I instantly felt like one of them. Greg has been slowly showing me the ropes of the water project and we have our first group coming Feb. 16th! Since we have the volunteers and means to do so, we are going to install two tanks back to back! Which means I'll be in Momos for two straight weeks working and learning. I'm very excited!!!<br /><br />On the shuttle bus coming into Antigua I met Dave who works for Delta and traveled down here for a long weekend to visit some friends of his who work with a direct trade coffee project. We exchanged emails and he was kind enough to let me tag along and meet some of the people he knows who live here. Made lots of great contacts that way as well as got to hike Volcan Picaya---one of the only volcanoes in the world where you can see lava flowing at the top. It was a much harder hike than we all anticipated but somehow we made it despite the 80+ mph winds! Unfortunately, when we reached the top there was no lava in sight. Dave is determined to come back and see lava. I have a feeling I wont leave this country without climbing it again as well. <br /><br />Here are some photos of the hike (of course I didnt charge my camera so this is all I could get) and one of the room I'm currently inhabiting. I'll be moving at the end of this month to my own mini-apartment/room.Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-69769268777660196492010-01-21T13:13:00.000-08:002010-01-21T13:23:33.240-08:00Off Again!---Guatemala!Hello Family and Friends! <br /><br />Thanks for logging back on to read about my new experiences and adventures. On Jan. 28th I'm flying to Guatemala to start a new job!If everything goes well, I should be in Guatemala for at least a year. I'll be the new Water Team Coordinator for CasaSito's rain water cathcment tank project in villages around Momostenango. I'm really excited about getting to know another Central American country, especially one with such strong indigenous roots. Although I have few expectations, I feel as though the country is going to be a mixture of Bolivia and Nicaragua---which are two of my favorite Latin American countries! <br /><br />Thanks again for all the support and encouragement over the last few weeks as I fund raised and got ready to leave. It has been a tremendous encouragement to me as I continue this journey...<br /><br />JackieJackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-90260369811595314362009-09-17T02:52:00.000-07:002009-09-17T02:54:40.166-07:00I found a little piece of heaven and didn't want to come downI didn’t want to leave<br /><br />After my time in Chitwan I ventured off to Pokhara to figure out what my next adventure would be. I met Natalie on couchsurfing.com and we planed to do a trek together after she wwoofed on a organic coffee farm in the mountains near Begnas Lake. Well after she got there she wouldn’t come down to go trekking with me so I decided to go up the mountain to meet her and figure out what this paradise was all about. <br /><br />I did some sketchy bank transactions in Pokhara and then left early one morning for Bignas Lake on September 5th. From Bignas I took another bus to Bhanjayang where I then climbed the mountain for about an hour asking for Surya’s house. Natalie met me about ¾ of the way to the home and I could tell by her persona it was going to be a great 10 days. I met Elise, a 19 year old aussie who was also staying there and ama and bua (mom and dad). <br /><br />Nothing I can say will really sum up ama and bua but they have the most wonderful essence about them. Their philosophy is that they are your parents away from home and they love to laugh. All the factors combined made for a perfect experience. The first day was just a preview to how good it was going to get: ama took Natalie into the woods, showed her a broken TV and mosquito net and then without warning squatted down and peed. It caught Natalie by much surprise, but ama just said she was giving nitrogen to the tree. This was followed by hoots of laughter and ama telling us not to tell bua. “Ama urine” continues to be a joke. So after that we had an amazing meal crafted by ama followed by some after dinner “dessert” and a baby buffalo being born! It was a day full of surprises and I felt like I had already been there for weeks.<br /><br />Now I’ve stayed in small villages before but I’ve always been alone. It’s always been okay, but it isn’t always easy leaving the conveniences (like toilets and showers) of more developed places. Plus on top of it you have to adapt to an entire different culture and way of life. So, what I’m trying to say is that this has been by far one of my best village stay experiences because I was able to share it with 3 other amazing girls.<br /><br />Wait. Three? Yeah, Danielle trekked up the mountain on my third afternoon on the farm. She’s 24 and resides in Portland. She sold her car so she could travel for about eight months (cool girl). She became my roommate (which I was delighted about because the rats didn’t make for perfect company) and the four of us were like peas in a pod. <br /><br />Ama left on my forth day at the farm to travel to Bangalore, India for a sustainable organic farming conference. It was her first time on a plane and we were all so excited for her. That left bua to the cooking. I think we began to realize on the third or forth day that bua only knows how to cook four things: rice, dal, zucchini, and bitters. So needless to say, we got a little tired of eating the same things and were very glad when ama came back after six long days. Also, there was a bit of a hang-up as ama normally milks the buffalo twice a day. Bua tried doing this in her absence but the buffalo refused to give milk. So, a lady neighbor (who we also called ama) came by twice a day, put on ama’s saree and shawl and went undercover as ama so the buffalo would give milk…only in Nepal.<br /><br />During the day we read and played a lot of games. We did some work to with the two other amas who work for ama and bua. (Now if you think there are too many amas to keep straight, imagine how they called all of us girls “sister.”) These amas –that we dubbed “hardcore ama” and little ama” are two wonderful and hard working women. We helped them till one day, weed another, and pick out all the worms from the compost. (Yes we picked out worms from a huge pile of dirt. And throughout the monotony I thought about all my friends who would never do it.) The scenery for weeding and tilling were phenomenal and we got to take them in several times while the ama’s had their cig break. <br /><br />Ama arrived from Banglore on my last night at the farm. She had many exciting things to tell and give to us. We got many sweets out of the deal! She wanted to save the best for last, so after dinner she broke out some organic sweets they were selling at the conference. They were about dark brown one inch by one inch blocks of pure sugar with a molasses flavor. When we were handed them Natalie made comment on how they looked like what she feed her horses, but nothing more was really said. Then we started sucking on them and it was pretty nasty and we were all sure if we were to eat the whole thing we would be up all night long, maybe even running up and down the mountainside because of all the sugar. Finally, it might have been ama or a combination of all of us who agreed what we were sucking on was pretty nasty. Ama apologized by saying she didn’t really know what she was buying when she bought them she just knew they were advertised as organic sweets and everyone was buying three or four bags. Then I think it was Elise who picked up the package and started reading. It never explicitly said, but we’re pretty sure we were eating animal treats. We all had a good laugh and dumped the rest of our sugar cubes into the buffalo’s scrap bucket. And still, some of us were up into the wee hours of the morning…either because of the sugar high or rats…<br /><br />The last day I was there I stayed for the first meal of the day because ama was cooking and I was ready for variety. She blew us out of the water and it made me want to stay even more than I did before…but I had to descend the mountain to write the final report for the Reading and Reflection project that was due Sept. 14th.<br /><br />The girls came down to visit, take showers, eat different food, shop, etc. two days after I left. They stayed for two days and we had a really great time together…I’ll be sad to see them leave but I’m happy that Natalie is coming to Kathmandu with me!Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-27861047581483480862009-09-17T01:52:00.000-07:002009-09-17T01:54:44.437-07:00Gawai, Chitwan: A Faithful LeapAfter my rafting experience I jumped on a bus (literally on top) to Chitwan where Ranjan, my former guide in Chitwan was waiting for me on his blue motorbike. It was nice to see a friendly face again and we headed to his village, Gawai (about 7 km from the touristy part of Chitwan) making small talk along the way. I was going to be living with the Basnet family who consisted of four daughters, mom, and dad. The daughters are 16, 19, 20, and 21 years old which was nice to be around girls my own age and who were all anxious to take care of me. The village and this family has had only had 3 other volunteers before and I was the first female volunteer so this made for a nice experience. The whole village was excited about my arrival and time working and living there (even if it was just for a week).<br />Well I made a very “Jackie-like” entrance: as I was going to get off the motorbike with my two fairly large backpacks, I fell straight over. Here was the entire family (minus the dad who was away on work in another village) eagerly awaiting me and BAM man down. Not knowing what to say to lighten the moment appropriately, before getting up I just gave them a big smile and NAMASTE! And a hearty chuckle, but I think they were more worried than entertained.<br />The first thing they did was give me a homemade and itchy necklace made out of clovers and tika. My first impressions were that the home was extremely clean. I didn’t know if this was typical, but as the week wore on and I visited other homes I realized it wasn’t easy to keep a home as clean as they did and I was grateful for their sanitation habits. After this we went to my room on the top of the house, put my things down and sat on the roof talking and not talking. The family spoke very little English so I broke out in my 20 word vocabulary Nepali and they seemed a little impressed. When it got dark Ranjan and I ate dalbaat together in the kitchen.<br />So my schedule for the week was basically: wake up at 6:30 or 7am eat cookies and chiya (chai tea) and then I would usually read. (*Side note: during this week I was reading a GREAT book I would recommend to anyone called The Primate’s Memoire, it’s hilarious, entertaining, and intellectually stimulating.) Then I would have dalbaat around 9am before leaving to go to the school at 9:30 with the neighbor who is a teacher at the school. We would walk about five minutes into the “center” or Gawai to get on the school bus teaming with loud, energetic and hot bodies of around a hundred kids under the age of 12. It became my daily ritual of taking a deep breath before getting in. <br />We’d arrive at school and wait for the bus to go pick up the 100 or so kids in the other direction. Then the first period of about six periods would start for the day. I went with the neighbor, Bipana, for the first two periods to the nursery class. We gave them work in their notebooks and played some games with them every day. They were pretty cute, I have to admit. Then I would usually go with Mekal to the first grade class. The first graders were the loudest and most rambunctious class and I loathed going there but Mekal was great. She is 21 years old, like most of the teachers, spoke the best English and just seemed all around like a great woman who loved to learn and work even though she has already started a family. <br />The first graders were always up to something. One day before school started some boys were messing around and next thing you know a kid has blood gushing out of the back of his head. Two days later the same thing happens to another kid but the blood is coming from his forehead. Also, on my last day there was some rumor or news of cases of swine flu nearby so two first graders wore masks all day. <br />I quickly learned that kids are taught and punished very differently here. This is probably something I’ve seen in other countries but just never really took mental note of before. Basically teaching is all in the repetition since there are no materials other than a text books, notebooks, and blackboards to teach with. Also, all the text books were in English but there definitely wasn’t a single teacher in that school that spoke enough English to teach or understand what those books said. Hmmm. By the end I had a stab at all the classes (the older ones were the best ones) and taught many subjects, including evolution. The text I read basically said humans came from worms, I didn’t know what to do with this…but by the end of the class I was sure none of the students really understood what I was saying or what the book said, so maybe they don’t think we came from worms? Who knows.<br />Punishment was physical and included slapping kids with the teacher’s hand or by a stick. Now don’t get me wrong they weren’t beating these kids up (the kids could do that themselves) but sometimes I flinched a little. But that was the problem with the bigger classes was that I couldn’t get the kids to listen to me unless I threatened them in that way. (Which of course I didn’t do, but it made my job as teacher more difficult). I also learned that hitting was a sign of friendship (so let’s just mess with their little brains a little more…) as one morning walking to school I got a nice wack on the back from the neighbor riding her bike to a different school where she teaches. <br />So the first day of teaching was exhausting. I didn’t know what I had gotten myself into and Chitwan is a very hot place so this all takes it out of you. I got home around 4:30 pm and went straight to the neighbor’s house to be introduced to her twin sister and see every family photo ever printed and of course eat cookies and drink chiya. Then I realized there was a lot of noise coming from my house across the street. I looked out the window and there sat around 30 kids on my front porch. <br />I was told that I would be giving “English classes” to some kids in the morning and afternoon but I was in no way prepared to teach 30 kids ranging in ages from 4 to 12 English after just teaching for six hours myself. It was basically really embarrassing and I was quickly ushered into the kitchen to eat and drink something. Even after this I couldn’t think of what to do with 30 kids. I think at first I was more concerned that they actually learn something. But towards the end of the week, I realized it was more about having fun and laughing than learning English so we played a lot of “Jackie says” and did The Hokie Pokie a few times. I realized I wasn’t going to be able to really improve their English much in six days but just the cultural interaction was enough entertaining for them and me. And I without a doubt learned a lot more from them that week than they learned from me. There was more than one time that week I felt I knew what Peace Corps volunteers feel like.<br />One funny incident was at the school one day during break time. The principal started talking to me and asked me if I came from a village or city. I thought about this for a moment and choose village (which was my first mistake but limited Nepali and English skills made it necessary for me to pick one). He asked me then what was the main job source. I thought about this and chose agriculture since it is the main source of income in Gawai as well and somewhat true in Madison. He asked me what crops. I thought and responded: corn and ummm grapes for wine making. He got a kick out of this. He said, “Oh so you make bread from the corn and you drink wine?” I just said yes . Silence. The principal was thinking and then asked, “Do children drink wine too?” “No children don’t drink wine.” I responded “And we have other crops too and we get a lot of other food from the store.” I didn’t want to confuse the man too much. Everyone I met in Gawai was very interested in where I’m from, what I eat in the US, and the weather. I got use to answering these questions. But that short conversation with the principal was very entertaining for me and perhaps I got the slightly sarcastic edge from reading this book The Primate’s Memoire. <br />As the days went on I started getting to know my sisters a lot better. I really do love them all in different ways. The youngest, Nani, was so sweet, caring, beautiful, and spoke the best English. She even went to Ktm by herself in the middle of the week to take a test. The next youngest was Sarjana. She took the best care of me always making sure I was eating and comfortable. She was also my roommate. The next daughter I thought was the most beautiful. She didn’t say too much but she had a great sense of humor and I loved making her laugh by doing crazy “Jackie” things. The eldest was 21 years old, a mother, and widow. Her husband of two years died of throat cancer about six months ago when their daughter was around six months old. It’s a sad story but after he died she came back home to live, which her father is very happy about. The eldest was very quiet and, I thought, very skinny. She spoke the least English but was actually going to school in her own way: she got notes from classes and takes exams at exam times to finish up what I think to be high school. She told me she’s the oldest yet finishing the same level as her youngest sister.<br />The first night I was there I asked what her daughter’s name is. The sisters replied in Nepali: Her name is simple. Okay, I thought, so what is it? They replied, her name is simple. So what is it, I asked again…it went on like this for a while until I finally figured out her daughter’s name is Simple…or something that sounds a lot like “simple” in English.<br />I had another very memorable night with my sisters towards the end of my stay. We were all sitting on the roof late one night after dinner watching a storm off in the distance, it was beautiful and exciting. We talked about a lot of things including how I needed to come back when I was married and bring my husband for them to meet. The second oldest thought my husband’s name would be Buddha and my name should be Buddi. They all got the biggest crack out of that, we were all rolling around laughing. I also told them about the clans of Jon and Kate and 18 and Counting from TV. They were impressed. We laughed about a lot of things that night and really started to break the ice.<br />The father came home after me being there for about four days, so I was already use to the house full of women, and was thoroughly enjoying it. I quickly found out I had nothing to worry about with the father as he was just as gentle as the rest of them, very smart, and an all around very kind man. He told me about his job which really fascinated me and I wished I was staying a bit longer to possibly shadow his work. He has a government paying job as basically a sanitation educator to very very rural villages. He teaches villagers about sanitation and how to build latrines correctly and he supervises them as the community or family builds them. Very cool in my book. <br />As the week drew to an end and my departure from Gawai was approaching everyone became very solemn and dutifully asked me to stay longer. Also during my last two days there a lot of dancing was requested from me and I was the center of attention as the community gathered around to watch the white girl dance, (usually with one other brave soul who would join me) great. I did love the village very much and the family and all the people and children I met. I was really getting use to the schedule, the copious amounts of food, and feeling clean from just washing my hands, feet, and face. But it was time to move on so I did and it was very sad for everyone. Everyone at the school was sad as well. They gave me a little present and the principle asked me if I believe in God because he thought I was a gift from God (not my words, his). I got and continue to receive multiple text messages asking me how I am and where I am at in broken English from lots of different people at the school, in the community and in my family. <br />All in all, it was an excellent experience and I really believe in the community work Ranjan and my host dad are creating. They really want to see their community be healthy, educated, and strive to a greater future. It’s a beautiful dream and one I see a great possibility for as they continue to care and work hard. I offered to make a simple website for Ranjan so others could find out about volunteering and I think I’ll make flyers too that he can print out and hang up around Chitwan and other cities. It’s a little step in the process, but hopefully it will help for obtaining some of their aspirations in the future. I’ll post the address once it’s all created. <br />The next adventures are just as good, so stay tuned! <br />JackieJackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-4221748309688747442009-09-02T21:02:00.000-07:002009-09-02T21:14:55.631-07:00My solo adventures have officially begun!My solo adventures have officially begun! They began over a week ago when I left KTM and went white water rafting for two days. I woke up early to catch the bus to Fishling, a little town on the road to Chitwan where rafters get dropped off to get wet ‘n wild for a few hours or days. I choose the longest trip being advertised during this time of year, two days. On the three hour bus ride to Fishling I sat next to another lone traveler, a Spaniard. (!!!) Seeing that a Spanish interview is approaching, I quickly jumped from English to Spanish and told her I needed to practice. I think it was too early for her as we only exchanged a few sentences during the first part of the ride. After our pit-stop we started a much better conversation where I learned her boyfriend (who she was visiting in Bangladesh) is from Granada, Nicaragua. So we talked about that for a while and about the project in Nepal and the job in Bolivia…and the normal things strangers talk about. <br /><br />We had an excellent rafting group: our guide, Laxman, three Aussies, the Spaniard, and myself. There were two Aussie guys and a sheila (as they call them in Australia, right?) The girl and one guy were obviously dating and the other guy was their friend who recently flew to Nepal and met them mid-way in their travels. It was obvious the single guy was a little lonely and was very sociable among the young ladies in other rafts (and with me at first). That was kinda funny to watch. So we ate lunch with two other rafts and met Natalie from London who was super sweet and had been teaching English outside of KTM for six weeks. There were also lots of naked little boys playing unashamedly in the sand and water where we stopped for lunch. It was a great mixture of new people and places. <br /><br />We continued rafting for two more hours until we reached our final destination for the day. Most people just do one day trips on their way to Pokhara or Chitwan so I said goodbye to them when we got out. My “agent” in KTM told me I would be staying in a “luxury” hotel for the night. The guides had no knowledge of this and actually laughed in my face so they told me I would have to stay in a cheep hotel for the night and pay myself. There was no cell phone service where we were to call the agent. So, I got in a bus and was told to follow Laxman, who was riding on the top of the bus in typical Nepali fashion. Inside the bus sat next to a really nice guy who spoke decent English and owns several private schools. So we exchanged the normal formalities and I told him about my hotel blunders. He started calling my agent whenever we had the slight glimmers of cell service. No luck. I had already been on the bus for over and hour and had no idea where to get off and I also thought at one point I had lost Laxman who was climbing all over the bus inside and out like a monkey while it was moving. I started getting nervous and didn’t know what was really going on. Finally right before we got off (and I found Laxman) we got through to the agent who confirmed with Laxman the hotel and food were supposed to be included. Whew. So Laxman and I went on a journey together to find a hotel just as it was getting dark. We basically took the first thing we came to and didn’t look at the room first, which is basically unheard of in Nepal. I didn’t really care by that point, I was tired, dirty, and in need of a computer…which didn’t work when the lights went out five minutes later. Perfect. <br /><br />I came back to the hotel to find myself locked out of my room and my luggage locked inside. So via candle light and (thank god for) the little flashlight on my cell phone we eventually broke into my room leaving a hole in the door. The guys at the hotel decided it was best if I switched rooms, I agreed. When I walked into the room it looked much like the other room, meaning it could easily pass for a jail cell or scene for SAW 345. It smelled funny and I made a face. Then I asked for an extra sheet. No go. Toilet paper? Yup! I guess my “I’m an alone white girl” face worked well and I got my TP. <br /><br />When the guy delivered the toilet paper he sprayed some soap stuff in the toilet that had obviously not been washed for a while. I’m not sure the soap stuff helped but to cover up whatever may have already been in the toilet, which I never dared to look to see. He also tried spraying air freshener but the can was empty, oh well. Shower (out of bathing suit finally!) food- dalbaat of course, I choose to eat it with my hands and no one said a thing. Went back to my room and read this absolutely hilarious and genius book about baboons in eastern Africa. It helped me forget where I was for a while. I also checked out the fan situation and discovered there were only two settings: helicopter landing in my room and dead off and stuffy. I chose the company of the helicopter. <br /><br />I woke up to my alarm around 7 and met Laxman, who awkwardly shook my hand and gave me a hug (one of the few hugs I’ve received while being in Nepal). I’m thinking he was just glad to see I survived the night with a smile still on? He wanted to feed me so we what were called on the menu banana honey crepes at the hotel. When they came out it was basically crepes rolled up with scatterings of bug pieces that I pushed to the side. <br /><br />We went back to the river and Laxman forced me to eat breakfast again saying I needed my strength for the river. Okay…. This time I had eggs and toast with no bugs. I was instructed to sit inside the mud house to eat because there were fewer flies. I complied. I sat in the kitchen made bedroom of visa versa. There were two beds that also served as benches for the table found in the middle of them. I sat on the unoccupied bed/bench and enjoyed my company across the table: a middle aged man sleeping while everyone ran about doing their daily chores. Oh you have it good, I thought. <br /><br />Then my day’s playmates arrived – four Brits and a heavily cologned, chain smoking South African who studied law in England and now lives in Afghanistan building court houses for the UN. Much more about him later. We did the raft “training” before setting off and I was practically introduced as an experienced guide by Laxman. I’m not sure if it was because of the previous day’s rafting experience or sleeping in the hotel, but I enjoyed pretending like I was a river goddess. The Brits were fun, just out of university. There were two guys and two lady Brits, both in couples, all friends but not traveling together the entire time. Well I know one was a couple, but I’m pretty sure the other set were just friends. One girl wore her orange polk-dotted undies the whole day- which is a huge no-no in Nepal. We had a nice time rafting together and did pretty well although the South African was a bit fussy. The rapids were much bigger on this river. <br /><br />We stopped for lunch and discussed our studies, jobs, and lack there of. We talked about Afghanistan a lot and the great work of the UN. (mainly because he like to talk about himself) He basically thought the UN was the shit and everyone should work for them so he tried to convince us of its benefits although he did agree it takes some luck to get in….hmmm….He’s a lawyer turned architect who is building court houses in Afghanistan because where is justice going to start if you don’t have a building to do it in?....hmmmm…..I got in a few sentences about our project in KTM and he asked why not Afghanistan- they need book and libraries there more….hmmmm….I tried to explain, but he just seemed it necessary for me to come to Afghanistan- which I wouldn’t mind doing, actually. I also tried to tell him about Three Cups of Tea and the work Greg Morrison is doing in that part of the world. He has never heard of the book and didn’t seem too interested….hmmm…. At the end of the day when he left he shook everyone’s hand on our raft except mine. Oh well. <br /><br />The day ended rather uneventfully except the bus to Chitwan was full so I got to experience “Nepali air conditioning” for the first time. Aka: sitting on the roof of the bus for over an hour! Matt Enriquez would have loved it.Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056228476345178424.post-8482965983944523042009-08-24T00:28:00.000-07:002009-08-24T00:32:37.557-07:00more pictures!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/SpJBjYSj2YI/AAAAAAAAAKk/R9QXotNpqt0/s1600-h/IMG_4873.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/SpJBjYSj2YI/AAAAAAAAAKk/R9QXotNpqt0/s320/IMG_4873.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373429381477947778" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/SpJBiv6I-BI/AAAAAAAAAKc/A6d54UWkYN4/s1600-h/IMG_4825.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/SpJBiv6I-BI/AAAAAAAAAKc/A6d54UWkYN4/s320/IMG_4825.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373429370638104594" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/SpJBiMl6a_I/AAAAAAAAAKU/7TfvO5MKEXM/s1600-h/IMG_4686.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moHf9CKdgKU/SpJBiMl6a_I/AAAAAAAAAKU/7TfvO5MKEXM/s320/IMG_4686.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373429361158024178" /></a><br /><br />some pictures from when mom and betsey were here. one is in a boat on a river in chitwan national park. another me paraglidng w/babu...crazy fun, and one of mom and betsey in a rickshaw, mom's last wish before leaving Nepal...Jackie Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035525456511249128noreply@blogger.com0